Up to date: June 2020
It took us 4 days of trekking the Inca Path to lastly attain Machu Picchu. It was one of the unbelievable and difficult experiences of my life.
Unsure when to plan your journey? You should definitely learn my information on The Finest Time to Hike the Inca Path!
Right here’s a breakdown of every day on the Inca Path main as much as our ultimate vacation spot…Machu Picchu!
Kilometer 82
UPDATE: I hiked the Inca Tail in 2011 and employed a information firm from Cusco. I truthfully don’t even know what the corporate was. These days, it is best to get your Inca Path allow and guide your information or tour MONTHS upfront. Solely 500 persons are allowed on the path every day, so area is restricted.
Inca Path Day 1: “No Problemo”
6:30 am get up name and all prepared for our first day on the Inca Path! After breakfast in Urubamba, our host, Edwin, walked us to the bus cease to catch our bus to kilometer 82 of the Inca Path.
On the bus, we met Juana and Pepe, our guides, and the remainder of our group who we’d be spending the following 4 days with. I had butterflies your entire drive there.
I didn’t actually know what I used to be getting myself into. All I had heard concerning the Inca Path was that it was going to be bodily difficult and one of the unbelievable experiences of my life. (A little bit of a broad description for those who ask me!)
We strapped on our packs, grabbed our strolling sticks, crossed over the river, and started the trek. Our first cease was on the midway level, Canabamba.
Juana confirmed us these native bugs that reside within the cactus, or “tuna” within the native language Quechua. Once you squish them, their “blood” produces a reddish pigment that’s used for coloring materials and make-up.
We bought some bug “struggle paint” and carried on in direction of our first campsite.
Mount Victoria was seen alongside the path. It’s the one snow-capped mountain among the many Andes we may see.
We walked 10 kilometers in whole and felt fairly good as soon as we reached camp. The view from our tent regarded down onto the valley under with Mount Victoria within the distance.
Day one success! Nevertheless, Day 2 is meant to knock our socks off!
Inca Path Day 2: “The Problem”
We have been up at 5:00 am and greeted with coca tea in our tent. Coca tea is constituted of coca leaves that are used for every kind of issues in Peru.
Sure, they’re from the identical plant used to make cocaine. No, chewing or brewing the leaves doesn’t get you excessive.
Coca leaves, of their pure state, are a conventional a part of on a regular basis life for Peruvians.
I couldn’t sleep in any respect the primary evening of the trek, so I awoke feeling fully ineffective and unprepared for probably the most difficult day of the four-day trek. For the size of the trek, we employed a porter.
“Porter” is a time period used for Peruvian males (often believed to be the descendants of the Incans for his or her endurance!) which can be obtainable for rent to hold further cargo for those who need assistance alongside the path. These males are unbelievable!
They’d actually run previous us up the mountain (whereas we struggled to catch our breath) carrying 20 kilos of drugs. Most of them have been sporting sandals! (I extremely suggest hiring a Porter in case you are nervous about carrying heavy weight through the trek. It’s troublesome with none cargo)!
Sage recommendation? Pack as gentle as potential. Should you can assist it, solely carry a hydration pack with water and a light-weight jacket you can tie round your waist for those who heat up. The porters will pace off forward of your group, so when you begin the day, you gained’t see them once more till you attain camp!
Now, the place was I?
We walked for hours upon hours up numerous stairs and up steep hills for what appeared like an eternity. Due to the altitude, I felt like I couldn’t fill my lungs with a full breath of air and would get winded actually simply.
At the moment was undoubtedly as difficult as they warn you will probably be.
Throughout a two hour stretch of the path, we hiked a steep incline alongside a cliff edge and much under us, we may see wild deer and llamas roaming the valley. I’ll have felt like I used to be dying, however the view was unbelievable.
As we handed by way of wet jungles and freezing chilly stretches of the path I attempted to remain targeted to maintain placing one foot in entrance of the opposite.
Finally, we made it previous what is called “Useless Girl’s Move” to the height at 13,776 ft above sea stage. No surprise they name it Useless Girl! RIP me.
Whereas it was fairly the achievement, we then had one other two-hour hike down the mountain in freezing chilly circumstances. By the point we reached camp, my physique was aching and all I wished to do was move out in our tent.
Alas, right here I’m running a blog.
Whereas it appears like I had a horrible day, it was additionally unforgettable. Through the 12+ hours of climbing, I had quite a lot of difficult moments but in addition discovered some components to be invigorating.
I discovered that listening to my iPod throughout probably the most troublesome components of the trek made setting a tempo lots simpler. I mainly danced my means up the mountain.
Thank goodness for hour-long dance music playlists.
Our campsite for Day 2 has an unbelievable view and I’m hoping that I’ve exhausted myself sufficient to get a greater evening’s sleep. 16 km tomorrow!
Andean Mountains
Inca Path Day 3: “Unforgettable”
We have been up at 5:00 am once more. And once more, I didn’t get a wink of sleep. At the moment was our longest trek, in whole 10 miles, up and down the Andean mountains.
It was a ravishing day… shiny and sunny! So, we took our candy time taking within the lovely environment.
We noticed tons of of lupines and orchids as we hiked by way of infinite jungles and archaeological websites. It took virtually 12 hours to lastly attain our campsite after stopping at totally different websites and taking a number of breaks.
We ended our day simply as Machu Picchu mountain appeared by way of the distant haze. We’re only one sleep away from lastly reaching Machu Picchu!
Day three down, yet another to go.
The anticipation is killing me however, not gonna lie. However, I’m additionally getting excited a couple of heat mattress and scorching bathe!
View from Puerta del Sol
Inca Path Day 4: “Machu Picchu”
It was a 6 km hike to Machu Picchu and we left within the pouring rain and within the pitch black of the early morning. It took a few hours to succeed in Puerta del Sol, or Solar Gate, the primary place you possibly can see Machu Picchu from on the path.
The view of Machu Picchu from above was insane! The earlier three days of trekking main up to date when it emerged from the clouds was indescribable.
I accomplished the Inca Path!!!
It was one of the bodily difficult experiences in my life that made me face a few of my very own private challenges as nicely. I spent quite a lot of time reflecting on my accomplishments, targets, successes, in addition to challenges from this 12 months and really feel like I’ve a brand new clear conscience to take with me from this expertise.
We hiked one other hour downhill till we reached the positioning of Machu Picchu. It was raining nevertheless it truly added to the sensation we had after we arrived.
Unbelievable, indescribable… that doesn’t even start to sum it up.
We spent just a few hours on the Machu Picchu taking footage, hugging llamas and taking part in conceal and search across the ruins. The very best a part of climbing down from Puerta del Sol at dawn is that you just get to be a number of the first individuals on the website.
